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The Right Skills? British Academy Report on Arts and Humanities Degrees Published

The Right Skills? British Academy Report on Arts and Humanities Degrees Published

Tuesday 28 November 2017

The British Academy’s latest report, entitled The Right Skills. Celebrating Skills in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, has just been published.

Chaired by Professor Sir Ian Diamond, FBA, FRSE, FAcSS, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, the steering group looked at the benefits of degrees in the arts, humanities and social sciences, the value of which are sometimes questioned as not being relevant and not equipping students with a tangible skill set.

The 65-page report finds that graduates in the arts, humanities and social sciences make a positive contribution to the economy. Employed in a wide range of sectors and a variety of roles across the workforce, they move between careers over the course of their working life, and make successful leaders and managers.

Arts, humanities and social sciences graduates contribute to a highly-skilled workforce, and make active and engaged citizens who contribute to the arts and cultures. Their critical and analytical skills, ability to solve problems, negotiate and communicate, speak other languages and understand other cultures have huge benefits in promoting social cohesion at home, and in furthering the UK’s prosperity and security abroad.

With the need in future to adapt to changing circumstances and demands, the report recommends that government continue to invest in research and education in the arts, humanities and social sciences to ensure that the graduates are produced with the skills to meet these challenges.